Part 5 (1/2)
CHAPTER V: JANET HEARS FROM BETTY
”h.e.l.lo, h.e.l.lo; that you, Sue?”
”YesJanet?”
”n.o.body else. Going to be at home for a while?”
”Yes; can you come over?”
”That is what I'd like to do, for what do you think?”
”Anything exciting going on?”
”Not exactly, but I've a letter from Betty Lee at last!”
”Oh, then you will bring it over with you, won't you?”
”Of course. That's what I'm coming for, although we might just as well make plans for the Sunday-school picnic while I'm over. This is a real good long letter. I thought she'd never write as she promised, to tell me about everything. I'd almost begun to thing Betty _had_ forgotten us!
But she hasn't, at least she says she hasn't, and she's been so busy, of course, and everything new. She wrote this at several different times.
But there, I'd better let her letter speak for itself. She said to tell you all the news, and sent you her love and everything, so I'll just let you read all of it, even the more or less private part if you want to.
I'll not get to your house for a little while, for I have to go down street for Mother first. She has to have some soap and starch and other groceries. She's been doing up something extra. But I thought I'd better call you up to see if you'd be there.”
In due season Janet Light appeared at the home of her friend, where the two girls repaired to the big swing in the back yard. There an old apple tree spread wide branches over them and let the suns.h.i.+ne of late September come through its leaves in fitful fas.h.i.+on, dancing with their shadows on and about the slightly swaying la.s.sies. It was Sat.u.r.day morning, hence their leisure after early morning tasks were over.
”And see what I have to show you,” said Janet, drawing from the envelope the letter and something with it that fell on the floor of the swing, almost going through its slats.
”Oh, a new picture of Betty!” exclaimed Sue, reaching down carefully to pick up the unmounted photograph, a small one. ”Isn't that cute? And it's good of Betty, too. Why, it doesn't look like a snap-shot.” Sue turned it over to examine it.
”It isn't. It was taken at some shop. Betty tells about it in the letter.”
”That's Betty's smile, and what a good light on her hair. Betty's hair is a real gold, just like what you read about in books. I always wished I had hair like Betty's. And I never saw such dark blue eyes as Betty has. They look straight at you here. I think Betty is a real pretty girl, don't you?”
”Yes, but she's no doll. And I think Betty's 'gold' on the inside, too.
That letter didn't sound as if she'd forgotten us this soon. Read it.”
Janet held out the thick packet of folded sheets.
”Oh, you read it to me. It will sound twice as well in your 'mellifluous' tones. Kate had to put 'mellifluous' in a sentence at school yesterday.”
Janet laughed. ”I may leave out the messages to me, then, but I'll read it if you want me to. Thank fortune, Betty writes so a body can read it.
And she says that we simply must come down to see her at the Thanksgiving vacation. I can't wait to _read_ you that. Her mother says so, too, she wrote. Do you suppose we could? I haven't said anything to Mother yet.”
”Wouldn't it be _wonderful_? Butclothes and everythingI'm afraid not.”
”We have as good things as Betty has.”
”I haven't anything that would do to travel in, though, and I'm afraid I can't have a new winter coat. My old one's a sight!”